Abstract

Chemerin is a chemokine that, through the engagement of its counter-receptor, ChemR23,
attracts pro-inflammatory cells. However, chemerin has been shown to play other functions
and a recent study by Berg and colleagues demonstrates that chemerin/ChemR23 is a
system beyond chemokines. Human articular chondrocytes produce chemerin and express
ChemR23, and upon stimulation with recombinant chemerin increase the production of
pro-catabolic cytokines and metalloproteinases. The latter are up-regulated in osteoarthritic
cartilage and cause extracellular matrix breakdown. Since an increase of chemerin
in fat tissue and serum of obese patients has been reported, this new feature of chemerin
may represent a functional link between obesity and osteoarthritis.